WTA Indian Wells Betting: Tough Test for stuttering Kvitova

"There's no reason why Tsurenko can't be the player that Kvitova has become in the next couple of years."

Back Lesya Tsurenko +5.5 Games vs Petra Kvitova

Even with the absence of the Williams sisters there is still plenty of quality tennis to be seen as eight of the current top ten in the women's game remain in the draw. Of those eight, Petra Kvitova could be in the most amount of trouble tonight...

While Petra Kvitova is undoubtedly an exceptional talent, there are reasons to oppose her tonight.

Firstly she didn't appear to be firing on all cylinders in her last match, serving ten double-faults and letting her head drop in the second Set. Secondly she has in the past openly confessed to not enjoying playing in North America because the humidity affects her asthma, and finally she is facing a young girl, Lesya Tsurenko, who is showing plenty of belief and self-confidence.

Tsurenko has reached her highest ever ranking of 74, the young Ukranian has had an impressive start to the year with notable wins over Hantuchova, Pavlyuchenkova, and Shvedova. She hits the ball with power and she's aggressive from the backcourt. She's clearly moving in the right direction and tonight is another opportunity for her to shine. There's no reason why Tsurenko can't be the player that Kvitova has become in the next couple of years.

Another youngster to keep an eye on is American Mallory Burdette. Like Tsurenko she also came through qualifying for this tournament, and her recent form suggests she has a lot going for her. Her service stats are impeccable, with very few double faults, and few break point opportunities offered. 

One tennis rule of thumb that is generally accepted is not to oppose Americans in America; there's something about the US crowd, they really know how to get behind their players. Kirilenko will be a very tough test, but with the home support, Burdette's rising star, and Kirilenko's poor record at this tournament (she's only gone past the third Round twice), Burdette can do enough here to win the match or at least cover the Handicap of +4.5.

The Cirstea v Radwanska match will be a big hitting aggressor versus an elegant, tricky counter-puncher. In their last two meetings the total has gone over both times. Cirstea's powerful serve will win her cheap points, and with her glorious forehand that she frequently unleashes with devastating effect, she can keep Radwanska pegged back on the baseline.

Last year was a stellar one for Radwanska as she made her first ever Grand Slam final. Cirstea on the other hand has not done anything of note since she made the quarter-finals of the French back in 2009. Nevertheless she is a solid performer, and while her ranking has slid since then she looks to be getting her form back.

Having played each other many times these two know each other's games very well. It will be an amicable affair and most likely closer than the odds suggest. +6.5 Games for Cirstea and Over 17.5 is the play here for me.

Recommended Bets
Lesya Tsurenko +5.5 Games vs Petra Kvitova
Mallory Burdette +4.5 Games vs Maria Kirilenko
Sorana Cirstea +6.5 Games vs Agnieszka Radwanska
Over 17.5 Games - Sorana Cirstea vs Agnieszka Radwanska

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Australian Open Stat Attack: Ivanovic can test Kvitova

Australian Open Betting / Ben Caudell / 22 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Aan Ivanovic looks a far better player after enduring a punishing fitness regime

"Although Kvitova has won twenty one of her last twenty two matches, she is prone to the occasional lapse in concentration and has conceded sets in seven of her last fourteen matches."

Petra Kvitova, a pretender to the number one ranking, is up aginst a former world number one in Ana Ivanovic. The beautiful Serb may not be able to knock out the Wimbledon champ but she should be able to take a set, say the stats of Ben Caudell.

4 Reasons to Lay Petra Kvitova 2-0 @ [1.81] against Ana Ivanovic

•Former world number one Ana Ivanovic has undertaken a strict fitness regime in recent months that has seen her rise in the world rankings. It has improved her serve and consistency from the back of the court and that may in part be due to her new coach and fitness coach. This new found confidence has been in abundance this past week in Melbourne as the tennis pin-up is yet to drop a set in her opening three matches.

• Ana, the 2008 French Open Champion has won 80% of her last ten matches at Grand Slam leve,l compiles credible stats against left-handers recording 71% of wins from her last fifty. The Serbian has also won four of her last six when opponent is a big server.

•Although Kvitova was ranked outside of the top 30 in 2008 and 2009, the years in which Ivanovic defeated the Belarusian, a 3-0 head-to-head series lead still provides a massive psychological advantage coming into today's match in favour of Ivanovic. With all three wins being played on hard (Brisbane 2009 - 6-4 6-2, Zurich 2008 - 6-1 6-4, Montreal 6-3 4-6 6-3) there is definitely value in laying Kvitova 2-0 @ [1.81] in the set betting market.

•Although Kvitova has won twenty one of her last twenty two matches, she is prone to the occasional lapse in concentration and has conceded sets in seven of her last fourteen matches. This includes a three set second round win at this year's Australian Open against Carla Suarez Navarro.

4 Reasons to back Kei Nishikori to defeat Jo Wilfried Tsonga @ [5.0] (Small Bet)

Kei Nishikori is one of my favourite players at the moment so my heart may be slightly ruling my head over today's match-up. But there are a few sound reasons why the Japanese superstar could upset all the odds to make it through to the quarter finals of a Grand Slam event for the first time in his fledging career.

•Firstly, the 22 year-old has defeated the Frenchman twice in the last three months and therefore leads the head-to-head series 2-0. Although their most recent match-up in the Kooyong exhibition event can possibly be discounted due to Tsonga suffering from jetlag and fatigue (which Kei won 1-6 6-4 6-1), the Japanese did triumph over a fully fit Tsonga in Shanghai in October of last year - 6-7 6-4 6-4.

•Nishikori seems to hold no fear when competing against the top players, having also defeated Novak Djokovic in Basel, Dolgopolov and Tsonga in Shanghai, and Nicolas Almagro in Kuala Lumpar. He holds a 50% match win record against top ten players since January 2011.

•Ranked 26 in the world and on the rise, Nishikori comes into this match having won five in a row in five set matches, five in a row on hard-courts and in Australia. Moreover, he has a great record against big servers, winning ten of his last eleven.

•With superior tournament stats on 1st serve %, 2nd serve points won, and total break points won, I'll be hoping that with the millions of Japanese fans tuning into watch their sporting hero, Kei puts in an a dogged performance and doesn't collapse under the weight of expectation.

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